Wednesday of Septuagesima

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.What does this mean? ...He also gives me clothing and shoes, food and drink, house and home, wife and children, land, animals and all I have. He richly and daily provides me with all that I need to support this body and life. (The Small Catechism: The Creed, First Article, Part 2)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. What about when God doesn't provide clothing or shoes or house or home or the things we need? Has He forgotten? Doesn't He know how much I need my parents to stay married? Doesn't He know that I can't lose my grandma to cancer? Doesn't He know I need to be smarter to pass this class? What then? Remember, Lord!

Jesus is the Father's proof that He never forgets. Even if He withholds something from you, He is just teaching you that He doesn't forget. He's teaching you to trust in Christ. But hasn't He forgotten that you can just crank up some extra faith in yourself? No, He hasn't forgotten that either.

That's why he gives you His Word: a pastor to preach it and a Bible to read it in; a baptism to remember; and a Supper to eat and drink. Those are the gifts that give you Jesus, and the Bible says that if God gave up His Son, how can He not give you all things? The "stuff" of this world is easy for the Lord to provide. He will give you what you need to survive.

But what He will give you most of all is His Son and through Him, the forgiveness of sins, yes, even the sin of doubting His goodness--of thinking He could ever forget you. All of that is wiped out by the cross of Jesus. The cross demonstrates that there is nothing the Lord wouldn't give you that you need. If that means, because of your sins, you need God Himself hanging on a tree to die for them, well, then, the Father will arrange that for you.

Your heavenly Father can't forget you. He made you. He sent His Son to save you and the Spirit to make you His own. You are His and He can never forget His own. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

What God ordains is always good: His loving thought attends me; No poison can be in the cup That my physician sends me. My God is true; Each morning new I trust His grace unending. My life to Him commending. (What God Ordains is Always Good, LSB 760:3)